Revelation 7:1
What does Revelation 7:1 mean?
A plain-English look at Revelation 7:1 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Revelation 7:1 means
John is shown four angels positioned at the “four corners of the earth,” restraining the “four winds.” This image portrays God halting destructive forces that would otherwise sweep over creation. The pause is intentional: judgment is under God’s command and will not proceed one moment before his purpose is complete. Even the most basic movements of nature—wind on earth, sea, and trees—are stayed by his word. Before the next wave of calamity arrives, heaven ensures that mercy is displayed. The scene assures believers that history is not chaotic; angels, not devils, hold the winds, and they do so only by the living God’s authority and timing.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that no wind should blow on the earth, or on the sea, or upon any tree.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that no wind should blow on the earth, or on the sea, or upon any tree.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949After this I saw four angels in their places at the four points of the earth, keeping back the four winds in their hands, so that there might be no moving of the wind on the earth, or on the sea, or on any tree.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And after these things I saw four messengers, standing upon the four corners of the land, holding the four winds of the land, that the wind may not blow upon the land, nor upon the sea, nor upon any tree;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752After these things, I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that they should not blow upon the earth nor upon the sea nor on any tree.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And after this I saw four angels standing upon the four corners of the earth, holding fast the four winds of the earth, that no wind might blow upon the earth, nor upon the sea, nor upon any tree.
Context
This verse opens an interlude between visions of judgment. After earlier scenes of upheaval, the narrative slows to show God’s restraint. The frame matters: before judgment advances, a protective act must happen. The next verses introduce an angel with God’s seal and a command to wait. Understanding this pause prepares readers to see the sealing of God’s servants as the reason the winds are held back, and sets up the contrast with the later vision of a peaceful, worshiping multitude in heaven.
v.1This passage
v.2And I saw another angel ascend from the sunrising, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a great voice to the four angels to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Revelation 7:3
saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we shall have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.
- Matthew 24:31
And he shall send forth his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
- Zechariah 1:18
And I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and, behold, four horns.
- Matthew 8:26
And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.
- Isaiah 11:12
And he will set up an ensign for the nations, and will assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.
- Isaiah 27:3
I Jehovah am its keeper; I will water it every moment: lest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day.
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